I DON’T LIKE MY BAGGY LOWER EYELIDS!

Normal egress of fluid into the fat that surrounds the eyeball is normal. We see it as “puffy eyelids” in the morning, or when one is tired. The fat that surrounds the eyeball is both, a suspension for the eye as well as a protector. Of course, a combination of the repeated puffiness, washing, wiping, daily wear-and-tear, makeup on-and-off, all conspire to create some looseness of the tissues of the upper and lower eyelids. There is a combination of changes also related to aging where tendons and septa stretch and relax. This is what results in what is commonly termed “baggy lower eyelids”. However, the changes are complex and often different in different people. Blepharoplasty is a generic term: it covers multiple procedures performed on lower eyelids and the midface to improve the appearance of these “baggy lower eyelids”. Advanced blepharoplasty techniques can give invisible results.

THE APPEARANCE OF LOWER EYELIDS IS A POWERFUL INDICATOR OF OUR ALERTNESS AND ATTRACTIVENESS

Loose lower eyelid skin gives one a tired and aged look. Excessive puffiness can make us look older than we may be, and also contribute to the comment often heard “did you get enough sleep?” Leakage of fluid repeatedly and other factors contribute to dark circles, which further make us look tired. The lower eyelid changes that contribute to many of these comments and appearances are complex and require a careful and accurate assessment of the changes to plan the safest and most effective way of addressing lower eyelid changes. There is a reason why I always tell my plastic surgery trainees that lower eyelid blepharoplasty and midfacial surgery is the most difficult procedure in cosmetic plastic surgery!

Effective rejuvenation of lower eyelids will take into account numerous anatomical and physiological factors as listed above. Only by assessing and addressing these numerous factors can one plan and design lower eyelid and midface surgery which results in a relaxed, un-operated look, without any of the stigmata of having had surgery. We correct and repair many lower eyelids which have had too much surgery or unwise surgery, so it is best to get it right the first time!

Changes that occur on the face cannot be looked at in isolation. It is a common mistake in our consumer-driven society for people (and surgeons!) to address individual items, as if on a menu. Therefore, people will have upper blepharoplasty or a browlift or lower blepharoplasty and forget that the flow of the face (and the body as a whole) must be considered with proper analysis and with due respect paid to the effects of surgery on the surrounding structures. Our philosophy, developed with extensive training, research and experience, is to address these issues and inform our patients fully so that there are no concerns or surprises after surgery. If planned appropriately, pleasing and long-lasting results can be obtained with lower blepharoplasty, but this is often combined with modification of some of the surrounding tissues to make the results look natural. Come and see us for an analysis and a consultation: you will be well-informed and educated about the changes, possibilities, safety and options.